Finally a new post

I know I have been slack. Sorry! i have been sailing the boat. The day we put it in was crazy! Luckily I had a lot of help. Stepping the mast was pretty smooth as I rigged the pole to the mast loop and ran a line through a block on the deck at the bow and back to a winch in the cockpit. Joe winched, I guided and rigged the foot of the mast and the stays and Matt and Will steadied and lifted the mast. Al in all it was pretty smooth. Here are some pix. I have been sailing it about 1-2 times a week. Night sailing is in season as it is not as hot or sunny. I will try to get some pix of us sailing up sometime.

I think she is done!

Finished up the 4 spots where the stands were. Rolled two coats on those areas and a third coat on the rest of the boat. It had about 4 hours to dry and then it rained here. I think it is ok though. The deck is dirty from all the pollen. I am hoping to put her on the trailer this week and splash this weekend.

Bottoms Up!!

Finally got some bottom paint on!!! It has been a long road or waterway...but we are close now. Today was an 11 hour day and my back is shot but I got the first hot coat of Interlux Ultra Coat on. She now has a total of 8 barrier coats but I sanded one off. Two more bottom coats Sunday and then do where the stands are and we splash her.

The Poxification of Four Winds

The barrier coat is now going on correctly. After using a foam roller and realizing I had screwed up I am back on course. After the first two coast with the foam it was runny and gloppy and not bridging some small pin holes and crevices. I went back and filled the holes with spot glazing putty then sanded the entire bottom again with a random orbital and 80grit paper. Hosed it off, blew it off, taped it off then went around two times each with acetone (me and Joe), then applied barrier using the mohair roller. WOW, having the right tool! The coatings are now flowing properly and also evening out the rough spots. Three more coats of barrier and then we begin bottom paint. I am hoping to finish the barrier next week and hopefully get the bottom paint on! I know these pics do not show much but the shiny look is the barrier coat!

Closer every day

Ok we are really close now!! I know I keep saying that but look at the pix. Inside just need wires pinned up and hooked up. I was not going to do anything to the inside but I had the paint left over so I slapped a quick coat on to clean her up a bit. As you can see not the life lines are on, bow sprit is on, windows are on. Really just need to get the bottom job done a sail her. There is a great before/after/progression on the interior.

Deck is almost done....

Well it is starting to look like a sail boat more and more. Thanks to Joe helping many hours we have most of the hardware back on the deck. The rub rail is on as well. Port side took 5.5 hours but we did the starboard side in about 3.5. We got the winches on as well. I really like to the look without the life lines and I am considering leaving them off. The only things left to do on the deck are the life lines, bow pulpit, bow light, front plate for where the fore stay attaches, and the pieces that route the dock lines. There are some good before/after pics if you look at some of the earlier pics of the progression. Hoping to be in the water by mid January 2010 as I think I will not make my previous deadline of December 25th.

Painted

Thanks to Jon the majority of teh paint is done. He sprayed the second coat today and it looks awesome. I really wish the boat was not under my trees and that it would stay lookin so clean. Either way here are some pix of it painted. Hopefully I will get the deck and seats textured this week.